The Social Care Workforce Is More ‘E-Ready’ Than Employers May Think

The social care workforce is ready to use more web-based methods of learning, according to Ipsos MORI research commissioned by the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE).

In its survey of 2,000 social care organisations, Ipsos MORI found that 66 per cent of employees felt that they had the skills to use information and communication technologies (ICT), with 68 per cent having access to a computer at work and 81 per cent with access at home.

These results were in contrast to the views of employers, who often believed that their employees did not have knowledge and confidence in ICT or would be intimidated or uninterested in the idea of e-learning.

SCIE commissioned the research after strengthening its resolve to provide good practice information in accessible, flexible and interesting formats. The organisation is now calling on social care employers to change their perception of ‘e-resistant’ social care workers and use more e-learning within the workplace.    

Speaking about the use of the technology and e-learning in social care, Chair of SCIE, Allan Bowman, said: “People who work in social care often have demanding and unpredictable workloads and so, understandably, want to learn about good practice at a time and place that suits them.

“The use of ICT, including the web and e-learning, is an ideal way for social care workers and students to update their professional knowledge, learn interactively and improve their technology skills and confidence. Employers can also benefit from reduced training and operation costs and improved workforce effectiveness.

“The research found that the belief staff couldn’t ‘cope’ with e-learning was central to employers’ hesitance to adopt it. We urge social care providers to have more faith in their workforce and encourage learning through creative and non-traditional methods.”
SCIE has already launched two sets of e-learning resources – Law and social work and Mental health of older people – that use videos, quizzes, and interactive features for social care workers and students to test and update their knowledge. To access the e-learning resources visit www.scie.org.uk/elearning

To access the report e-Readiness in the social care sector: building the capacity for e-learning, visit

http://www.scie.org.uk/elearning/files/readiness.pdf